Kevin De Bruyne orchestrated a dramatic Manchester City comeback on Wednesday as they stunned Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to p...
Kevin De Bruyne orchestrated a dramatic Manchester City comeback on Wednesday as they stunned Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Madrid looked on course to edge a cagey contest after Isco’s smart finish early in the second half, but De Bruyne teed up Gabriel Jesus in the 78th minute and then tucked away a penalty five minutes later.
A pulsating finish saw Sergio Ramos sent off for preventing Jesus from going clear and Madrid’s captain will now be banned for the second leg at the Etihad Stadium on March 17.
City’s two away goals will make them heavy favourites to go through, even if manager Pep Guardiola was quick to discourage complacency.
“It’s still not over,” he said. “If there is one team that can overcome this it is this club (Real Madrid) with their experience and their history.”
“We know the situation,” said Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. “We have to go there and win.”
Madrid have now won only one of their last five games, with the Clasico against Barcelona in La Liga to come on Sunday.
“We are on a bad run but we have to get ourselves out of it,” said Zidane. “Sunday is a chance to change.”
Strikers on bench
Guardiola sprung...
